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11th Annual Formula Hybrid Returns May 1-4

After more than 10 months of planning, design and construction, hundreds of the world's top engineering students will arrive at New Hampshire Motor Speedway next week for Dartmouth's 11th annual Formula Hybrid Competition. The four-day competition will run May 1-4.

Twenty teams from the United States, Canada and India will compete in hybrid and electric divisions, where they will need to pass numerous technical and safety inspections in order to make it on to the speedway. The students' vehicles will compete in aspects of design, acceleration, handling, and endurance, while abiding by rules that minimize risk and preserve students' freedom to innovate.

"We are the only hybrid competition of its kind," said Douglas Fraser, director of the Formula Hybrid and senior research engineer and laboratory instructor at the Thayer School of Engineering at Dartmouth, which founded and runs the event. "There are competitions that look a lot like ours, but those vehicles are only gasoline powered or powered entirely by electric.

"We are the only competition that combines the two, with gasoline engine on one side and electric power on the other. Blending the output can be done any number of ways. Students have to work together and decide which system gets to do what. It's pretty tricky."

As a result, the Formula Hybrid is the only competition that requires the full cooperation of mechanical engineers, electrical engineers and computer scientists in the planning and building of their cars. Formula Hybrid teams must also optimize energy efficiency and incorporate sustainable materials when building their vehicles.

Formula Hybrid gives students the platform to showcase their knowledge, skills and ability to work as a team - all under pressure, as recruiters from major automotive companies and suppliers will be on-hand with the hopes of hiring some of the best and brightest.

For other spectators, May 3 is the "most fun-filled" day to visit, as the autocross and acceleration events run from 10:00 a.m. to 3:30 p.m. It's also Formula Hybrid School Day for middle and high school students who enjoy guided tours with volunteers from the SAE New England Section and other knowledgeable experts.